U of L presents a happening about community in inVISIBLE (too) to open season

Wednesday, 03 October 2018 15:19
Richard Amery

The University of Lethbridge is having a “happening” for their first theatrical production of the season.“inVISIBLE (too)” happens at the David Spinks Theatre, Oct. 9-13. The intimate show is a collaborative effort between The University of Lethbridge and Handsome Alice Theatre in Calgary welcomes the audience in to a dorm built into the David Spinks Theatre to listen to stories and songs from the cast including Kathryn Smith, Alex Watz, Makambe K Simamba, Jaymie Brennan, Sheadene Morrison and Hannah Stobbe, who draw from their personal experiences as they share stories with each other and the audience.

“We sit around and tell stories and sing songs for 90 minutes,” described Kathryn Smith, who tells a story about helping several friends undergoing mental breakdowns.

“ But sometimes, we’ll tell stories, or play an instrument or dance,” she added.

“We spent the past three-four months telling stories to each other for this show. They’re all true. The stories range from being about being with family to mental health,” she said, adding there is no script for this interactive production. The actors will tell stories or play music.

“I’ll also strum some guitar,” she said.“We wanted the feel of friends getting together and hanging out and sharing stories and feeling better,” said Alex Watz.While the concept originated in Calgary, the Lethbridge show has a new cast telling new stories.“ All of the performances are brand new,” Smith said.

“It’s not a typical show,” added Watz, a fifth year, U of L BFA student, who was in Duchess of Malfi last year.“ This is a lot different from that show,” she said.

“ This show is about creating a sense of community and connection as the audience sees and feels these characters’ stories,” Smith explained, adding the stories express variations of the themes of feeling invisible.

Tickets for inVISIBLE (too) are available at the University Box Office, Monday – Friday, 12:30 p.m – 3:30 p.m., or by calling 403-329-2616. Tickets are also available online: uLethbridge.ca/tickets. Tickets are $18 regular, $13 senior and alumni, $12 students. Seating is limited, and audiences are encouraged to purchase their tickets early.“inVISIBLE (too) runs Oct. 9 - 13 at 7:30 p.m. nightly and 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 13 in the David Spinks Theatre.